Abstract
Banana ( Musa paradisiaca ) flower is rich in phytochemicals (vitamins, flavonoids, proteins) and has antioxidant properties. The anti-cancer activity of banana flower extract has been evaluated on the cervical cancer cell line HeLa. The antiproliferative effects were evaluated by MTT assay. The extract was further purified by TLC and characterized by LC-MS method. The ethanol extract had significant cytotoxicity to HeLa cells with an IC 50 of 20 µg/mL. By thin layer chromatography we could isolate three fractions out of which fraction 2 had exhibited maximum anti-proliferative effects with an IC 50 value of <10 µg/mL. By LC-MS analysis, bioactive fraction was found to have an m/z value of 224.2 indicating it as a novel one. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjp.v9i4.20610
Highlights
There is a large amount of experimental evidence which suggests that consumption of fruits and vegetables lower the risk of cancer (Chen et al, 2004)
When HeLa and CHO cells were treated with the ethanolic extracts of the banana flower, there was a dose and time dependent anti-proliferative effect observed in the case of HeLa cells
When CHO cells were treated with the ethanol extract of banana flower, we could see a decrease in percentage viability with an increase in concentration
Summary
There is a large amount of experimental evidence which suggests that consumption of fruits and vegetables lower the risk of cancer (Chen et al, 2004). From its native South western Pacific home, the banana plant spread to India by about 600 BC and later on it spread all over the tropical world It is possibly the world's oldest cultivated crop (Yusoff, 2008). Xylose, galactose, glucose and mannose occur naturally in banana (Debabandya et al, 2010) making it an excellent prebiotic for the selective growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine It aids in combating diarrhea and dysentery and promotes healing of intestinal lesions in ulcerative colitis. Roots of Musa paradisiaca are antihelmintic, flowers are astringent and fruits are mild laxative. It is useful in celiac disease, constipation and peptic ulcer (Mallick et al, 2007). China et al, (2011) reported that, the banana flowers are a potential source of natural anti-oxidants
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